Typical wedding budget percentage ranges
Use these ranges as a planning framework, not a rule. A dry hire wedding, restaurant wedding, micro wedding or destination wedding will change the split.
| Category | Typical range | What changes it |
|---|---|---|
| Venue and catering | 35% to 50% | Guest count, service style, venue hire, corkage, staffing and menu choices. |
| Photography and video | 8% to 15% | Coverage hours, second shooter, albums, travel and turnaround. |
| Attire, beauty and grooming | 6% to 12% | Dress, suit, alterations, hair, makeup, trials and accessories. |
| Flowers, decor and rentals | 6% to 12% | Venue blank canvas, installation size, candles, linen and furniture hire. |
| Music and entertainment | 4% to 8% | Band versus DJ, ceremony music, lighting and travel. |
| Stationery and signage | 2% to 5% | Printed invites, postage, menus, table plan and welcome signs. |
| Transport and accommodation | 2% to 6% | Guest transport, wedding car, hotel room and late night travel. |
| Cake, favours and gifts | 2% to 5% | Guest count, cake size, favours and wedding party gifts. |
| Contingency | 8% to 12% | Price increases, late changes, tips and emergency purchases. |
Example budgets by total spend
| Category | £10,000 budget | £20,000 budget | £30,000 budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue and catering | £4,000 | £8,000 | £12,000 |
| Photo and video | £1,200 | £2,400 | £3,600 |
| Attire and beauty | £900 | £1,800 | £2,700 |
| Flowers and decor | £800 | £1,600 | £2,400 |
| Music | £600 | £1,200 | £1,800 |
| Stationery and signage | £300 | £600 | £900 |
| Transport and accommodation | £400 | £800 | £1,200 |
| Cake, gifts and extras | £400 | £800 | £1,200 |
| Contingency | £1,000 | £2,000 | £3,000 |
Guest count is the pressure point
Venue, catering, drinks, stationery, table count and some hire costs move with guest numbers. If the budget does not work, checking ten guests fewer is usually more realistic than cutting every supplier by a small amount.
Wedding budget calculator→Cost per guest calculator→Wedding budget spreadsheet→Vendor payment schedule→
Budget mistakes to avoid
- Using supplier quotes before setting a hard total.
- Forgetting VAT, service charge, overtime and delivery fees.
- Ignoring payment dates and only tracking total cost.
- Keeping no contingency for final month changes.
- Separating budget work from guest list decisions.
Turn this guide into a working plan
Use the planner bundle when you want the budget, guest list, vendor comparison and checklist files in one connected workflow.